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(N0 Model.)

G. P. BARNUM.

HOLDBAOK FOR VEHICLES.

Pateed Oct. 23, 1888.

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UNITED Snares arena @rrrcs.

GEORGE F. BARNUM, OF VILSON, NElV YORK.

HDLDBACK FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,676, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed June .36, 1888. Serial No. 278,211. (No model.)

same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in holdbacks for thills or shafts of vehicles, the object being to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means whereby the holdback-straps attached to the breeching of the harness can be readily attached to the thills, and will be released when the horse moves out of the thills; and it consists in the special construction and combination of the parts, as will behercinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improvement, showing the same applied to the thills of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is abottom view of the holdback-iron and connection attached to the holdback-strap. Fig. 3 is a view taken from the opposite side from Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a detail sectional view.

A refers to the thills or shafts of a vehicle, to which theholdback-iron Bis attached by means of bolts or screws b I), the same being preferably applied to the under side of the thills. This holdback iron or casting B is provided with a flat under side, adjacent to the inner edge of which are formed a series of projecting nibs, e 0, the opposite edge having a series of recesses, G, the under sides of which are countel-sunk. These recesses terminate at points about equidistant from two adjacent nibs. The casting B has the portions between the recesses or open-ended slots 0 formed with upward projections, which lie over the outer side of the shaft or thill. The countersunk portions of the recesses O are at the rear edge or base of the recesses or openended slots, as shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

E refers to the attachment through which the holdback'strap E passes, the same being formed with a cross-bar, F, from which projects a lug, f, two sides thereof being fiat, while the other sides are curved and formed conical, so as to fit snugly within the countersunk recesses formed in the open-ended slots 0. Adjacent to one sideof the lugf of the cross-bar F is attached a flat spring, 9, which is adapted to bear against the flat side of the casting B and prevent rattling of the parts when attached to each other. The attachment E is also provided with cross-bars G and G, and with side pieces, as shown, one of the side pieces being adapted to engage with one of the projecting nibs 0, so as to limit the turning of the attachment E in the open-ended slot when the parts are placed in position for use. The holdback-strap is passed through the attachment E, as shown in Fig. 4, the length thereof being adjusted as desired.

To attach the holdback-strap to the thills, it is simply necessary to incline the rear end thereof forwardly to bring the flat side of lug fparallel with the side walls ofa recess or slot, 0, of plate B, and slip it in one of the openended slots and turn it rearwardly, the rearward movement thereof being limited by the engagement of one of the sides with one of 8c the projecting nibs c, and when attached the spring will prevent the parts rattling upon each other.

When the traces are detached, the horse can be allowed to walk out of the shafts, a forward pull upon the holdback-straps serving to turn the rear end of attachment E forward until the flat sides of lug F are parallel with the side walls of the recess, thus releasing the device.

The device hereinbefore described is simple and effective, and there are no parts liable to get out of order.

I claim- 1. In a holdback, the combination of a plate provided at one edge with a series of rear- Wardly-inclined open-ended slots countersunk at the base, and a buckle or loop, E, having a flat-sided lug, the ends of which are beveled inward to fit the countersinks of said plate, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the thill-plate provided at one side with inciined slots having countersinks at their inner ends, and at the other side with nibs c, anda buckle or loop cured to the buckle to bear upon the plate having side pieces, and alug having inwardlywhen the parts are locked together, substan- 5 beveled ends and flat sides parallel with the l tially as described.

side pieces of the buckle,'substantiall y as de- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in scribed. presence of two witnesses.

3. The combination of the thill-plate, one GEORGE F. BARNUM.

edge of which is provided with inclined slots 10 having countersinks at their inner ends, a

buckle or loop provided with a lug shaped to I pass within a slot and lock in the countersink upon a partial rotation, and a plate-spring se- Witnesses:

O. S. MoOHEsNEY, L. E. HEN Y. 

